Two people were killed when they were hit by a car after a van they were riding raced out of Mexico heading the wrong way up the freeway into San Ysidro early Sunday.

Seven others were arrested after the apparent attempt to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

The van was carrying nine people when it sped out of Mexico, going the wrong way up Interstate 5 around 2 a.m., Border Patrol Agent Tekae Michael said.

Near the transition between I-5 and Interstate 805, the van stopped on the shoulder, and at least occupants got out, Michael said.

The Border Patrol did not initially pursue the van, but tried to make contact with the occupants after its agents were notified of the incident by Port of Entry officials.

About 2:05 a.m. and about a half-mile away from the abandoned van, two of the passengers dashed into the lanes of southbound I-5 and were struck by a Chevrolet Trailblazer going about 65 mph in the slow lane.

The driver tried but could not avoid the two people in the road. She pulled over and called 911 after they were struck. She also stayed at the crash site, near Via de San Ysidro.

The two pedestrians died at the scene. The driver was questioned and released, a CHP official said.

According to the Medical Examiner’s office, one of the victims was a woman, the other was a man. Both are believed to have been in their 20s. Neither has been identified.

Border Patrol agents caught and arrested the seven others believed to have been in the van. Michael did not have further information on the two people killed or seven detainees, including their ages, genders, or countries of origin.

A portion of the freeway was closed for a short time after the crash,but was reopened by 3 a.m., Michael said.